The men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics kicked off with surprises on Wednesday. Slovakia pulled off a stunning 4-1 upset over Finland, while Sweden rallied to beat host Italy 5-2.[1] These Group B results set the tone for a competitive field featuring NHL stars from 12 nations. Heavy favorites Canada and the United States have yet to play, but all eyes turn to Thursday’s slate.
With games split across two Milan venues—the 16,000-seat PalaItalia and Fiera Milano— the tournament runs from February 11 to 22. Top teams from each group advance directly to quarterfinals, alongside the best runner-up, making early wins crucial.[2]
Current standings
Group B leads the way after the opening day. Slovakia sits atop with three points from their victory, thanks to strong goaltending from Samuel Hlavaj, who posted a .975 save percentage on 40 shots.[3] Sweden also earned three points, overcoming an early deficit against Italy.
- Group A: All teams at 0-0-0-0 (0 points) – Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, France.
- Group B: Slovakia 1-0-0-0 (3 pts), Sweden 1-0-0-0 (3 pts), Finland 0-1-0-0 (0 pts), Italy 0-1-0-0 (0 pts).
- Group C: All teams at 0-0-0-0 (0 points) – USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark.
These standings reflect just two games played so far. Expect shifts as Groups A and C enter the fray on Thursday. The format rewards consistency, with the top group finisher and best second-place team skipping the qualification playoff.[2]
No points leaders have emerged prominently yet, given the limited action. Goaltending has shone brightest, with Hlavaj’s performance anchoring Slovakia’s win. Filip Gustavsson of Sweden stopped 20 of 22 shots for a .909 save percentage.[3]
Czechia’s injury woes add uncertainty to Group A. The team lost Bruins center Pavel Zacha before the tournament, potentially weakening their depth against Canada.[1]
Thursday’s schedule
Four matchups highlight Thursday, focusing on Groups A and C. All times Eastern.
Group A
- Switzerland vs. France | 6:10 a.m. | Peacock
- Czechia vs. Canada | 10:40 a.m. | USA Network/Peacock
Group C
- Latvia vs. USA | 3:10 p.m. | USA Network/Peacock
- Germany vs. Denmark | 3:10 p.m. | Peacock[1]
Canada faces a motivated Czechia squad in a potential heavyweight clash. The U.S. opens against Latvia, a chance for captain Auston Matthews to set the tone.[4] These games carry weight in a short preliminary round ending February 15.
Viewers can catch action on USA Network and Peacock, with streaming options broadening access. For full tournament details, check the official Olympics schedule.[5]
The parallel scheduling of Latvia-USA and Germany-Denmark at 3:10 p.m. ramps up excitement. Denmark and Germany bring solid IIHF qualifiers experience, but North American powerhouses loom large.
Key teams and rosters
Team USA boasts a star-studded lineup led by captain Auston Matthews. Forwards like Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Tage Thompson provide scoring punch, backed by defensemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. Goalies Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman form a deep net.[4] As our recent post notes, the U.S. men’s hockey team is ready to chase Olympic gold in Milan.
Canada counters with Sidney Crosby as captain, flanked by Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Their blend of veterans and primes makes them co-favorites alongside the U.S. in betting odds.[1]
Sweden and Slovakia impressed early. Sweden’s Gabriel Landeskog leads William Nylander, Elias Pettersson and Victor Hedman. Slovakia, captained by Tomas Tatar, features Juraj Slafkovsky and Erik Cernak in their upset win.[4]
For a deeper dive into all 12 teams, our preview of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics breaks down rosters and predictions.
Finland’s loss stings, but Mikael Granlund, Sebastian Aho and Miro Heiskanen keep them dangerous. Hosts Italy fought hard despite the defeat.[4]
Stat leaders and standout performances
Early goaltending dominates the stats. Samuel Hlavaj (Slovakia) leads saves percentage at .975 and GAA at 1.00 from 39 saves.[3] Filip Gustavsson (Sweden) follows at .909 SV% and 2.00 GAA.
No multi-point games yet, but Slovakia’s attack overwhelmed Finland. Sweden’s comeback featured balanced scoring after Italy struck first.
| Goaltender | Team | SV% | GAA | Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Hlavaj | SVK | .975 | 1.00 | 39/40 saves |
| Filip Gustavsson | SWE | .909 | 2.00 | 20/22 saves |
| Juuse Saros | FIN | .875 | 3.06 | 21/24 saves |
| Damian Clara | ITA | .939 | 3.90 | 46/49 saves |
These numbers highlight underdogs’ resilience. Expect offensive explosions as favorites join in.
Latest news and storylines
Slovakia’s upset over Finland rocked Group B, validating their qualification run.[1] Sweden’s response to Italy showed depth.
Auston Matthews’ captaincy anchors USA’s gold push. Canada tops betting with the U.S. close behind. Full ESPN coverage tracks it all.[1]
Czechia’s Zacha injury hurts, but they face Canada head-on.
Venues like PalaItalia hosted openers smoothly despite past construction concerns.
Thursday’s games could redefine the bracket. USA and Canada’s debuts promise fireworks, with playoffs looming February 17. Gold hangs in the balance for these NHL-laden squads—what a tournament it’s shaping up to be.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.